Christian principles

Press, 16 July 1986, Page 16

Christian principles

Sir,—B. R. Hansen (July 12) looks for Christian principles in the opposite direction. The entire Gospel of Jesus Christ is based on love and forgiveness. Christ reveals to His followers spiritual laws that govern human life, but are not accepted by the world. Nevertheless, a breach of these laws has dire consequences in due time, as even some unbelievers may dimly perceive. European history abounds in wars fought under the cover of Christ’s name, but they were, and still are today, the attempts of evil forces to discredit Christianity.—Yours, etc., E. P. STECIURENKO. July 13, 1986.

Sir,—B. R. Hansen (July 12) is right. Years ago, as a trades council delegate, I listened to a lecture by an Aboriginal woman. She claimed that on Sunday afternoons in Tasmania, after divine service, the men took their guns for afternoon sport, hunting and shooting members of her race. Her great-grand uncle was one of the targets hung up on a branch as “dog-tucker” until the following week’s hunt Later still, troops going to . Vietnam were blessed by the late Cardinal Spellman who, standing beside President Nixon, called them the “soldiers of Jesus Christ.” I ponder at times.why the effects of Agent Orange, drenched on the forests, fields and people of Vietnam, are today appearing in offspring of these soldiers. There is something about transgressions appearing unto the third and fourth generations. Is there some psychic agency bringing to light such satanic evils in these more enlightened days and in which the deity is being updated into the twentieth century?—Yours, etc.,

W. J. COLLINS. July 14, 1986.

Sir,—The answer to B. R. Hansen’s question (July 12) is simple. The historical events he quoted did not arise from “Christian principles” but from the unregenerate part of Christendom. He has fallen into the. common error of equating Christianity with Christendom. To define “Christian principles” he should go to the source book, and take a long look at the impeccable Founder of the faith. He would find that Christians were originally called “disciples,” i.e.